Summer time is when many dog lovers will be taking off to vacation. It is also a time when you can hit the road to travel with your dog for visits to the lake, beach or state park recreational areas. If you plan to travel with your pet, here are some travel tips especially oriented toward van owners.
To provide safe, secure and comfortable transport for dogs, van owners may elevated kennel crates up off the floor upon secure platforms as pictured here.
The platform shown was built for a Toyota van and is made 16 inches high so that a variety of commercially available storage boxes, bins, suit cases and even coolers may easily fit beneath the travel kennel. Shown is a plastic storage container which may be used to carry such dog supplies as a first aid kit, leashes, grooming aids and other items which may be safely stored under the dog crate.
The platform shown is supported by strong steel "L" beam legs. These legs were cut from metal strips commonly sold in hardware stores and used to make utility shelving. In fact the entire platform was framed with this metal work to provide strength and stability.
Each leg has two metal angle braces and a strong wooden top made out of one-half inch high quality finished cabnet board. The platforms are constructed so that two platforms each measuring 2' x 4' will fit side by side. This gives a total size of 4' x 4'. Larger vans may add a third or forth platform. This arrangement provides easy handling and removal of the platforms. It also provides a very secure, stable and strong platform, given two platforms side-by-side produce a double brace support down the center line of the van. (Platform size may be changed and customized to fit each model of van).
To provide comfortable doggie travel the platform is cushioned on the top. Thick quilts, blankets or sleeping bags used for this purpose provide easy maintenance and cleaning. You may also use foam pads provided they are durable and covered with water proof material.
If you are not happy with the rather flimsy wire crates available upon the market, you may want to modify them. Take an existing wire crate design and modify it using strong metal "L" braces along all upper and lower sides, mounting the entire crate upon a stable one-half inch board covered with metal sheeting. Lock down, heavy duty caster wheels may be added to make it easy to roll the crate in and out of hotels or motels. Using the same "L" beam supports on both the platform and crate provides an ideal attachment point for elastic straps and cords. This enables one to secure the crate to the floor which prevents any possibility of shifting cargo. Also by having storage area under the platform and dog crate, cargo shift is further elliminated.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of such ellivated platforms is the comfort it provides for dogs. By being at window level dogs can enjoy scenery passing by much as do their human guardians. For even greater comfort you may equip the crate with a high quality epoxy coated metal pan. Dri-Dek tiles set inside the pan keep any moisture, urine or water spillage off the dog which may be especially important when transporting a new puppy long distances. The Dri-Dek tiles and epoxy coated pan shown here were ordered from R. C. Steele Wholesale Pet and Animal Care Supplies. You may contact them for a free catalogue by calling 1-800-872-3773.
To insure a safe trip, carry a storage bin of doggie supplies. This may include gallon jugs of water from home (or wherever one goes to pick up a new puppy). By using water that a dog is use to drinking, one reduces the risk of stomach upset (which is also a good idea for people travelers). You may also want to include such items as a first aid kit, nail clip, dog brush, leashes, collars and dog toys. Preferred toys are items that dogs can not swallow (which may vary with breed and size of your dog). This includes Kong toys, high quality natural rubber balls, tennis balls and socks stuffed with clean cloth and tied into a knot. A very rugged play toy may be made from an old pair of Levi's jeans. Cut off the legs and tie them in a knot. Cloth toys of this sort also help dogs keep their teeth clean.
Usage of a wire crate supported atop a stable platform also enables safe driving because one can still see out the rear window. Solid, opaque crates do not permit rear view mirrow vision and hence add a risk factor.
You may also want to provide your dog with a dog tag that simply says "REWARD" then lists your phone number. Also include the phone number of your veterinarian or another contact person who will be easy to reach while you are on the road. In this manner the dog has identification which helps insure return should a pet become lost. Of course I never let my dog out of my sight and never leave my dog unattended in my car when traveling. It goes everywhere with me and so is not at risk of being lost or stolen. I highly recommend that anyone traveling with their dog always complain to management of hotels or other places if they do not allow dogs. In this manner maybe over time more establishments will come to not discriminate against responsible dog owners.
I also recommend traveling with proof of ownership papers. This may include original copies of your bill of sale, buyer/seller agreement or AKC registration papers. These should be kept on person and not where anyone could steal them and the dog at the same time. Also it is a good idea to use microchip identification in addition to dog tag identification. Add a recent photograph of your dog so that in the rare event your dog becomes lost while traveling you can show people a picture of your dog. This will aid in its rapid location and return.
When traveling with a dog, you may also want to carry a large piece of mosquitoe netting, and extra sheets and towels. The mosquitoe netting may be draped over the travel crate to prevent flies and mosquitoes from getting to your dog. This is especially important if one stops to camp. The netting also provides shade both when the travel crate is inside the van and when removed. Even when travel crates are placed inside hotel rooms netting can keep flies and mosquitoes off your dog should one of these pesty insects get into your room. Since it only takes one mosquitoe bite to transmit heart worms, it does not hurt your dog to provide an extra measure of prevention. This is especially true for young puppies which may not have yet started their heart worm medication. Of course the best way to prevent heart worms is to maintain your dog on some form of heart worm preventive medication as may be recommended by your veterinarian. Sheets and towels also come in handy as to provide bedding or clean up of spills.
There is no reason you should leave your canine at home, provided you plan ahead to provide your dog with safe and comfortable traveling accomadations. This means a secure travel crate and an air-conditioned van or automobile. It also means stopping to let your dog play, exercise and relieve itself. You may want to carefully select your stops such that you do not frequent areas where others dogs may have been exercising. This reduces the chance that your dog may pick up a contagious disease, which is an especially important consideration for new puppy owners, given young puppies may not have yet developed their immune systems. Typically this would mean avoiding highly visited doggie rest areas in favor of less frequented doggie watering holes such as fast food restaurants.
Have a good trip, drive carefully and remember that by providing a safe, secure and comfortable travel experience for your dog, it will love to travel with you and will be eager for your next trip!
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Last updated 14 Feb. 1998.
WebMaster: Terry Lynch
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